September 25, 2008

I wasn't aware of this, but I am apparently willing to pay an extra £42 a year for the gift that is public service television broadcasting.

And before you start chuckling, so are you.

So says yet another of this Government's semi-acronyms that pass for the offices of state regulators these days, Ofcom.

According to their extensive research, which involves absolutely no one I know, or have ever met, or am likely to meet, ever - and while I'm at it, has anyone ever asked you or anyone you know what TV show you watched last night so they can work out the ratings? No? Me neither. Funny that - "viewers are prepared to pay up to £3.50 more a month to safeguard commercial public service broadcasting," reports MediaGuardian.

The article adds: "In a survey of 2,400 adults across the UK, three-quarters said they would be prepared to pay up to an average of £3.50 a month for public service programming on ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel Five on top of the current TV licence."

Hmmmm.

Bearing in the mind the tremendous public service that Channel Five brings to the nation alone - Axe Men, CSI Croydon, Why I Married A Horse - do you think they should possibly cast that survey just a little wider? Maybe? Just a bit?

What a load of Ofcock.